(Adds PL statement)
The Labour leader had organised a political frame-up and used politics for personal vendetta, PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier said this afternoon.
He was addressing a news conference following the meeting of the PN executive yesterday during which Richard Cachia Caruana was cleared of all charges levelled against him by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
Dr Borg Olivier said that in this matter, Labour leader Joseph Muscat was showing that he was the mastermind of political manipulation and had led in the organisation of a political frame-up.
He pointed out that the whole issue had started from a PL motion in parliament which then led to yesterday’s events. It was a shame how Dr Muscat thought he could strike off public officials through motions, speculations, insinuations or allegations.
Dr Borg Olivier said that Dr Muscat had even been caught lying when he said that there were instances when Mr Cachia Caruana had tried to get into the good books of Labour protagonists. This did not result from the affidavits taken. He said it was a shame that those who made accusations against Mr Cachia Caruana did not go to yesterday’s executive meeting, where they could have been cross-examined.
Dr Borg Olivier said that the events showed that the PL was still what it was 30 years ago and it was clear it did not want to change.
He condmened Labour's implication of the late President Emeritus Guido de Marco in the attempted murder of Richard Cachia Caruana.
Asked whether Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had colluded with Labour in this political frame-up, Dr Borg Olivied said he did not. Dr Pullicino Orlando, he said, had made his requests and the Labour Party manipulated the situation.
He referred to statements by Labour MPs Karmenu Vella and Joe Mizzi and asked why the latter had not discussed his claims with anyone, not even his leader, then Alfred Sant, who was Prime Minister at the time.
Dr Borg Olivier ignored a question about the Mistra scandal, a subject which cropped up during yesterday's meeting of the executive. He said that the meeting had showed that the PN was a democratic party that was capable of discussing things openly without muzzling anyone.
Asked whether Dr Pullicino Orlando’s position within the party was tenable, he said that the decision that had been taken by the executive was limited to his and another two MPs’ candidature.
Asked about statements by EU Commissioner John Dalli, Dr Borg Olivier reiterated what Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday without elaborating.
'GONZIPN TRYING TO BLAME PL FOR INTERNAL PROBLEMS'
In a reply, the PL said it was interesting how GonziPN was trying to blame the Labour Party for its internal problems.
This confirmed that Dr Gonzi and his party were cut off from reality and were arrogant with families and businesses.
The PL said one should note that while the PN was fighting internally during the executive meeting last Thursday, PL leader Joseph Muscat was attending a meeting on the PL's proposals in favour of persons with a disability. During yesterday's meeting, Dr Muscat was in a dialogue meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise.